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Football: Pioneers holding steady at the top

Zane Trace’s Drew Rittenhouse runs in open field last season against Unioto. The Pioneers’ offense is expected to heavily rely on Rittenhouse this fall at the wide receiver position.(Photo: Gazette file photo)Buy Photo

KINNIKINNICK - The narrative is set and the usual expectations are written in stone. Now, Zane Trace has to simply go out and do what it’s done over the course of the past four seasons: win.

With new head coach Don Kunz calling the shots, the Pioneers feel as if they can be more balanced than a season ago; one that ended with a 69-22 loss to Nelsonville-York in a Division V regional quarterfinal.

“We have a lot of kids who are understanding our concepts and a lot of kids who can provide us with good minutes so we can stay fresh,” Kunz said. “When it comes to the late third quarter, we will be in as good as position as anybody else. And our kids’ confidence right now? They really like the way things are going and the schemes that they’re seeing. They’re really starting to comprehend everything.”

Setting the tone on offense is returning running back Etheridge Games, who racked up 712 yards on 126 carries last season alongside six scores. He’ll be joined in the backfield by Ty Shanton, who will take over the quarterback position.

“I think the big thing is going to be constantly working on getting “plus” plays,” Kunz said. “Etheridge runs the ball very hard and does a good job. As far as Ty, I think he’s a double threat that’s going to put us in some good situations. But we just want “plus” plays and not take risks. If we can move the chains or shorten the length of the chains, we’re doing something right.”

Returning receiver Drew Rittenhouse leads a talented cast of wideouts for Shanton to throw the ball to. Rittenhouse, a senior, ended last season with 271 receiving yards on just 16 catches. He’ll be joined out wide by Jordan Waller, who will spend time in the slot.

Defensively, Zane Trace allowed 17.9 points per game last season; second-best in the SVC.

Kunz has spent much of his coaching career as a defensive coordinator. Rightfully so, he has high standards that will need to be met.

McNichols and Kieran Place will lead the charge at their defensive end spots while Chaffin, Wilson and Seth Karst are the Pioneers’ interior linemen. At the next level, Larson, Brett Posey, and Eli Karst will make up the inside linebacker rotation while Barker, Rittenhouse and Will Palmer play the outside linebacker spots.

Four of those names -- Barker, McNichols, Eli Karst and Palmer -- all had over 50 tackles last season.

In the secondary, Shanton, Waller, Mason Lawrence, Elliott Lynn and Ryan Winans will all play important roles.

“We're expecting the same type of success that we've had in the past,” Kunz said. “We understand there's tradition and history here and we're not looking to change any of that.”

2017 Zane Trace football roster

Number

Last

First

Ht.

Wt.

Grade

65/45

Barker

Brandon

6’

200

12

67

Chaffin

Austin

6’2”

240

12

54

Karst

Eli

6’

185

12

57

McNichols

Harley

6’

210

12

42

Palmer

Will

5’10”

179

12

81

Posey

Brett

6’2”

188

12

5

Shanton

Ty

5’10”

187

12

16

Waller

Jordan

6’

163

12

76

Wilson

Aavon

6’3”

260

12

34

Rittenhouse

Drew

5’8”

163

12

50

Carroll

Austin

6’

235

11

46

Conle

Peyton

6’

194

11

24

Finley

Corbin

5’7”

150

11

20

Games

Etheridge

5’10”

180

11

80

Geno

Jake

6’1”

219

11

6

Lawrence

Mason

6’

167

11

84

Lynn

Elliott

6’3”

175

11

55

Karst

Seth

5’11”

173

11

78

King

Christian

5’11”

300

11

60

Mettler

Jake

5’11”

235

11

38

Place

Kieran

6’

183

11

73

Rittinger

Jaiden

6’

208

11

83

Seymour

Lance

5’6”

122

11

2

Smith

Wyatt

5’9”

155

11

13

Winans

Ryan

5’10”

175

11

74

Slater

John

6’

248

11

82

Nichols

Gabe

6’4”

190

11

17

Climer

Collin

5’8”

187

10

70

Creed

Takeo

6’

186

10

79

Downs

Matthew

5’10”

295

10

10

Farley

Camden

6’

180

10

4

Fetters

Christian

5’10”

154

10

89

Larson

Lane

6’1”

200

10

63

Perry

Clinton

5’10”

212

10

3

Shanton

Gabe

6’1”

199

10

77

Six

Devahn

6’1”

245

10

41

Stauffer

Cougar

5’7”

167

10

66

Williamson

Jacob

5’8”

308

10

86

Campbell

Owen

6’

177

10

58

Harris

Shawn

5’10”

229

9

56

Lytle

Brendon

5’6”

182

9

44

McDowell

Logan

5’10”

147

9

33

Nichols

Tyler

5’10”

168

9

8

Vollmar

Dillan

5’9”

146

9

18

Wilson

Zac

5’6”

116

9

88

Fry

Caden

6’2”

173

9

51

Streitenberger

Justin

5’9”

180

9

Playing Favorites: Brandon Barker

Favorite food? Pizza

Favorite school subject? Math

Favorite team to play against? Unioto

Favorite musical artist/song? “Thunderstruck” - AC/DC

Favorite teammate? “Our senior class has a lot of really good leaders and we are all good friends. I can’t just pick one.”